Document Type
Article
Abstract
Personnel data from a British infantry regiment spanning the late 18th century, showed cessation of stature increase at 21 years. Shorter men were under-represented in peacetime recruiting cohorts, but not those enlisted for war. A secular trend is marked. Mature stature for men born 1749 to 1753 (170.5 cm) declines to 1769-1774 (167.3 cm), and recovers to original levels (1775-1778). This flucuation is associated with national nutritional conditions at time of birth. Stature also varied with environmental cold, migration, urban/rural residence and occupation.
Recommended Citation
Steegmann, Theodore Jr
(1985)
"18th Century British Military Stature: Growth Cessation, Selective Recruiting, Secular Trends, Nutrition at Birth, Cold and Occupation,"
Human Biology:
Vol. 57:
Iss.
1, Article 20.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol57/iss1/20
